Whitby to feature in stage one of the 2017 Tour de Yorkshire

Sam Jones

The full route for the three day event was released today, which shows that Whitby will be part of stage one.

A closer look at the route around Whitby. Map by the Tour de Yorkshire

The stage, held on Friday, April 28, begins in Bridlington and ends on the North Bay in Scarborough - for the third year running.

In between those destinations, the peloton will also make their way through Pocklington, Garrowby Hill and Goathland before heading North towards Whitby.

The two sprints on the route will take place at Pocklington and Whitby Abbey.

Outlining the route in the Whitby area, Sir Gary Verity, chief executive at Welcome to Yorkshire said: "We will go for the first time to Goathland, known to many of you as the village of Aidensfield from the TV series Heartbeat, where we'll have our second climb. We go for the third time down Blue Bank, which is a very fast and technical descent.

"And we're going for the third time to Whitby, where we'll do our second sprint of this stage up the hill to the Abbey, made famous by Bram Stoker's Dracula.

"We then go through Robin Hood's Bay."

There was also exciting news announced today (Friday) about the possible return of the Tour de France to Yorkshire.

Christian Prudhomme, director of the Tour de France said: "The question is not if, it is when."

He also expressed his love for the people of Yorkshire's enthusiasm for cycling: "I love your passion for cycling in Yorkshire and I love your steep climbs...in the car."

Speaking about the enthusiasm for cycling on the East Coast, Sir Gary Verity added: "The people are tremendously passionate, now that people know the route the bunting will go out.

"Whole villages will really get behind it, it's just fantastic! It's more than just a bike race, it's about bringing communities together."